Liquid dispensing apparatus



Aug. 13, 1935.

A. E. PAIGE HQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1951 2 Sh'eets-Sheet- 1 FIG! Au 13, 1935. A E A E 2,011,009

LIQUID DISPENS ING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1,931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1(- 57 H I z 4.; T l J L J Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITEDSSTATES.

PA NT OFFICE 12 Claims. (01. 221 9s) invention may be advantageously employed in apparatus for dispensing gasolene. from curb stands, and particularly such apparatus wherein the discharge of liquidis effected by an electri-e cally driven pump, in the stand, controlled by a switch, in the stand, operableby means of a flexible mechanical connector, such as a push or puliwire or pull .cableextending along aflexible liquid dispensing hose to manually operative means for moving said wire or cable at a dispensing nozzle at the discharge end of said base.

Ordinarily, such a flexible connector is carried by the hose in eccentric relation to the latter; however, I have shown my invention embodied in a form includinga liose provided with means for supporting the flexible connector in coaxial position in the hose, as disclosed in my copending application'Seriai No. 505,751 filed December 31, 1930, and as described and claimedin my copending 'application Serial No. 512,318 filed January 30, 1931.

An object and effect of my invention is to provide means to automatically efiect adjustment of the motion-transmitting device above contemplated, connecting the spaced switch and valve so as to not only maintain the same in proper cooperative relation while permitting the hose to be flexed to the maximum degree necessary or desirable for dispensation of liquid therethru, but to also automatically compensate for wear'and stretch of the parts.

My invention also includes such construction dispensing apparatus of the character aforesaid including a convenient embodiment of my invention.

II is a fragmentary partly sectional elevation of the dispensing hose and its appurtenances indicated in Fig. I.' The hose isshown distorted intermediate of its length in Fig. II in that it is impossible to bend it upon suchshort radii as there indicated. In practice, the shortest radius oi any bend in the hose is inches.

' Fig. III is. an elevation of the lower end of the lower hose coupling shown in Fig. II, but detached from the nozzle.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a modified form of the motion-transmitting means wherein a corrugated metal bellows is. substituted for the plunger mounted to reciprocateiin the stufiing box shown in Fig. II.

.Fig. V .is a. vertical sectional view of the switch cradle and its support, taken on the line V in Fig. II in the direction of the arrow marked on said line. i V V i Referring to Fig. I; the pump stand includes the base I, easing 2, platform 3, center frame 4, casing 5, and dome 6. I The liquid to be pumped is withdrawn from a subjacent tank thru the pipeB by and thru the rotary 'pump 9 which is supported by said platform}; Said. pump is operatively connected with at least five the electric motor I0 and adapted to discharge the liquid thru the pipe l2, the meter i3, and the pipe l4, into the sight gage i5 from which it gravitates thru the pipe I6 and the elbow I! and T fitting I8 into the fiexible'dispensing hose 20, said hose, has}, at, its free end, the nozzle 2i containing thevalve 22 which is normally closed upon its seat 23 by the pressure of the spring 24 which abuts at its-free end against the cross bar 25in the adapter 26 which is detachably connected with "the nozzle by the screw thread 2]. Saidvalve has the stemv 29 extending thru the stuffing box 30 in the nozzle 2! adapted to be operated by the arm 3| of the lever 32 which is fulcrumed at 33 in the handleframe 34 which is rigidly connected with said nozzle 2 i, conveniently by spot welding its opposite bracket members 35 thereon.

Said handle frame 34 is U-shaped in cross section and has alined openings 31 in its opposite walls to receive the staple 38 of the lock 39 indicated in Fig. I 'toprevent unauthorized manipulation of said lever 32to operate said valve andthepartsconnected therewith, as hereinafter described. Said nozzle maybe thus locked in inoperativevposition when hung in the hook 4| of the support 4-2 projecting from-said casing 5; in which position the staple 3.8 is extended thru the opening 43 in saidsupport;

p g o Said valve .22 is-provided with the follower 4.5

which, as shown iri.;Fig. II, includes a circular cylidrjical skirt flange slip fitted; in the port 46 in said seat. 1;, controlled by said valve; so that althosaid .valve' may be moved from its seat by an operator gripping said lever 32 and handle 34 together; the motion of said valve is idle, as far as dispensation of liquid thru said port 46 is concerned until the skirt flange on said follower 55 is thrust thru said port 66 far enough to permit passage of liquid thru the latter. Such motion is utilized to operate an electric switch 41 controlling said motor ll) thru the circuit conductors 58 and i9; but with such correlation of the parts that said switch may be closed to start the operation of said pump 9, before said valve 22 is opened, and the effective area of the valve controlled port 46 be varied at the will of the operator without breaking the pump motor circuit at said switch; so that the operator may control the rate of discharge of liquid thru said hose, to vary the same without variation in the operation of the pump. In order to limit the pressure imposed upon the liquid in the conduit 12 by the operation of said pump; I find it convenient to provide the bypass valve 58 which opens to permit the escape of liquid from the discharge to the intake side of said pump at a predetermined pressure for which said valve 50 may be variably set. Said switch 4'! conveniently includes an evacuated glass tube containing the body of mercury '52 which, in the open position shown, is separated from the terminals 53 and 54 of said electric circuit 48 and 49, but electrically connects them when said switch ll is tilted counterclockwise with reference to Figs. I and II which show said switch in open position and said valve closed.

As shown in Fig. V, said switch M is detachably mounted in the cradle 56 which is carried by the rock shaft 5? and frictionally engaged therewith by the spring 58, which latter is compressed between the washer 58, which bears againstsaid cradle, and the collar 59 fixed on said shaft; so that said shaft may be turned in either direction, idly, in excess of the motion required to tilt said cradle 56 to the slight extent necessary to open and close said switch. Such tilting movement may be limited by the stop pins 60 indicated in Figs. II and V. Such rocking movement of the shaft El is conveniently effected by the sector 6| which is rigidly connected therewith, conveniently by the set screw 62 shown in Fig. V.

The operation of said switch 47 both to open and close it, is effected by motion transmitting means including the flexible connector 64 which may be a single wire but is preferably a cable including a plurality of fine wires twisted together. For instance, forty-two fine phosphor bronze wires may be grouped in six strands of seven each and twisted around a cotton cord center to provide a cable one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter having the maximum degree of flexibility with the maximum degree of resistance to elongation under tensile stress. Said connector 64 is mounted to reciprocate'in the liquid passageway of said dispensing hose 20, in coaxial relation with the latter by extension through the flexible tubular sheath 65 which may be conveniently formed of a single helically wound wire with itsc-onvohitions in close relation and having its ends fixed in spacing members '66 rigidlyconnected with the opposite end couplings 61 of said hose Zil as indicated in Fig. III; each of said spacing members comprising an axial tube maintained in coaxial relation with the hose by a plurality of radially extending flanges 68. The intermediate portions of said sheath 65are conveniently slipfitted thru spacing members I!) which are similar to the members 66 but shorter and held in proper spaced relation longitudinally with respect to the hose by the constant length cable H which is conveniently formed of a plurality of small wires twisted together and soldered or brazed at its opposite ends upon said spacing elements 56, as indicated in Fig. III.

A liquid dispensing hose structure having means for supporting in coaxial relation therewith reciprocatory motion transmitting means such as above described is claimed in my copending application Serial No. 505,'751 filed December 31, 1930, for Letters Patent of the United States.

Said motion transmitting flexible connector 64 is preferably connected with the stem l3 of said valve 22 by the screw M which is fixed upon the end of said connector 64 and axially adjustable in said stem which is mounted to recipro cate as a plunger thru said bearing 25.

The opposite end of said flexible connector 64 is fixed in the plunger which is mounted to reciprocate in the stuffing box l6 carried byv said T fitting l8. As shown in Fig. II, said plunger 15 has its upper end screw threaded in axially adjustable relation with the yoke ll which carries the pulley l8 engaged in the bight 88 of the flexible connector which is detachably rigidly secured at one end, conveniently by the clamp screw 82 upon the normally stationary but removable cover 83 which incloses said stufling box It; so that every longitudinal movement of said connector 8! effected by the lever 32 and the spring 24 is double that imparted from the flexible connector 6 3 to said pulley yoke El. Said connector 8! extends over the idle pulley 85 in the casing 8'! to said sector 6! and, in order to maintain a proper tension of said connector 8i, through said plunger l5, upon said connector 64, I find it convenient to provide the weight 89, pendent from saidconnector 8i over said sector 6! which is, in effect, a bell crank lever.

It may be observed that in the arrangement above described, said weight not only maintains tensile stress on the flexible connector S l of the motion transmitting device between said switch and valve, but also partially counterbalances the pressure of the liquid in the hose, which tends to close said valve, and thus facilitates the opening movement of the latter. Of course, the inclusion of motion multiplying means in the motion transmitting device above described permits the use of a smaller weight to accomplish a given result than if such motion multiplying means were omitted from said device. Moreover, I prefer to make said weight in sections, as indicated, or otherwise adapted for variation, so that the apparatus may be calibrated to effect the coordinate operation of the valve and switch with the minimum exertion by the operator.

Motion transmitting and multiplying means cooperatively connecting said flexible connectors 64 and Si maybe formed without the plunger 75 and stuffing box it. For instance, as shown in Fig. IV, the screw 9i at the upper end of the cable as maybe fitted in axially adjustable position in the head 92. of the corrugated metal bellows $53, which is attached at its lower end to the T fitting I8. Said head 92 is adapted to carry the pulley '58 with the same effect as above described with reference to Fig. II.

' In the form of my invention shown in this case, said bellows 93 is normally partly collapsed so that when the tension on the cable 64 is relaxed,'the bellows is distended by the weight 89.

However,- a spring may be substituted for said weight. a However, such motion transmitting and multiplying means as shown in Fig. IV are described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 505,751 filed December 31, 1930, for Letters Patentoi the United States tor Liquid dispensing apparatus wherein the bellows is normally distended but adapted to be collapsed by pulling a'cable equivalent to 64 to close an electric switch. In other words; such motion transmitting means as above described may be stressed and moved axially either away iromor toward the. nozzle end of the hose to eflect the switch closing operation. i i

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrange ment herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a flexible hose; of a flexible connector extending along said hose and axially movable relatively thereto; means at the discharge end of said hose whereby said flexible connector may be axially moved; a plunger at the initial end of said hose, operatively connected with said axially movable connector; a pump whereby said liquid is dispensed; an electric motor operative- 1y connected with said pump; an electric switch l in the motor circuit, adapted to control the op eration of said pump; and a motion multiplying device, and frictional switch engaging means, confor extending along said hose and axially mov able relatively thereto; means at the discharge end of said hose whereby said flexible connector may be axially moved; a plunger at the initial end of said hose, operatively connected with said axially movable connector; a pump whereby said liquid is dispensed; an electric motor operatively connected with said pump; an electric switch in the motor circuit, adapted to control the operation of said pomp; and a motion multiplying device connecting said plunger with said switch; whereby said switch may be operated by means at the discharge end of said hose, regardless of position of flexure of the latter wherein the motion multiplying device includes a flexible connector operatively connected at one end to said switchv and fixed at its opposite end and depending in a bight, and a pulley carried by said plunger and engaged in said bight; whereby the motion imparted to said switch is more than that imparted to said plunger by the operating means at the discharge end of said hose.

3. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a flexiblehose; of a flexible connector extending along said hose and axially movable relatively thereto; means at the discharge end of said hose whereby said flexible connector may be axially moved; a plunger'at the initial end of said hose, operatively connected with said axially movable connector; a

pump whereby said liquid is dispensed; an electric motor operatively connected with said pump; an electric switch in the motor circuit, adapted to control the operation of said pump; and a motion multiplying device connecting said plunger with said switch; whereby said switch may be operated by means at the discharge end of said hose, regardless of position of flexure of the latter; wherein the motion multiplying device inoludes'a flexible connector operatively connected at one end to said switch and fixed at its .opposite end and depending in a bight, and a pulley carried by said plunger and engaged in said bight; whereby. the motion imparted to said switch is more than that imparted to said plunger by the operating means at the discharge end of said hose; and adjustably variable means adapted to automatically'stress said switch. 'to a predetermined position, when released.

.4. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combi nation with aflexible hose; of a flexible con-. nector extending along said hose and axially movable relatively thereto; means at the discharge end'of said hose whereby said flexible connector may be axially moved; a plunger'at the initial end of said hose, operatively connected with said axially movable connector; a pumpgwherebysaid liquid is dispensed; 'an electric motor operatively connected with said pump; an electric switch in the motor circuit, adapted to control the operation of said'pump; and a motion'multiplying device connecting said plunger with said switch;.whereby said switch may be operated by meansatthe discharge end "of said hose, regardless of position of flexure of the latter; wherein the motion multiplying device includes a flexible connector operatively connected at one end to said switch and fixed at its ODPO-n site end and dependingjin a bight, and a pulley carried by said plunger and engaged in said bight; whereby the 'motion imparted. to said switch is more than that imparted to said plunger by the operating means at the discharge end of said hose, and adjustably variable means adapted to automatically stress said switch to a predetermined position, when released, including an oscillatory body carrying a movable member of said switch; and a weight pendent from said oscillatory body.

5. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a flexible hose of stretchable material; of means adapted and arranged to render the axial length of said hose substantially constant; an electric switch at the initial end of said hose; means controlled by said switch for forcing liquid through said hose; switch operating means at the discharge end of said hose; and a flexible connector extending along the hose from said switch to said switch operating means; whereby said switch may be controlled by an operator at the discharge end of the hose, regardless of flexure of the latter.

6. Liquid dispensing apparatus as in claim 5; wherein the flexible switch connector is provided with a metal body mounted to reciprocate axially with respect to the hose at the switch end thereof, and provided with another such body at the discharge end of the hose.

7. In a liquid dispensing system, a conduit including a flexible hose, and a port through which the liquid is dispensed; means for supplying liquid through said conduit; an electric switch for controlling said supplying means; a valve for controlling said port, including means maintaining said port closed during the initial movement of tinually cooperatively connecting said valve and switch; whereby movement of said switch is consequent upon any movement of said valve means for continually stressing said valve toward its closed position and said switch toward its open position; said valve being normally closed and said switch normally open; and means for moving said valve toward its open position; whereby closing movement of said switch may be effected as a consequence of opening movement of said valve, before said valve is opened.

8. In a liquid dispensing system, a conduit including a flexible hose, and a port through which the liquid is dispensed; means for supplying liquid through said conduit; an electric switch for controlling said supplying means; a valve for controlling said port, including means maintaining said port closed during the initial movement of said valve toward its open position; means continually operatively connecting said valve and switch; whereby movement of said switch is con--. sequent upon any movement of said valve; means for continually stressing said valve toward its closed position and said'switch toward its open position; said valve being normally closed and said switch normally open; and means for moving said valve toward its open position; whereby opening movement of said switch may be effected as a consequence of closing movement of said 3 valve, before said valve is closed.

9. In a liquid dispensing system; a conduit including a flexible hose, and a port through which the liquid is dispensed; means for supplying liquid through said conduit; an electric switch for con- 3 trolling said supplying means; a valve for consaid valve toward its open position; means conswitch; whereby movement of said switch is con-' sequent upon any movement of said valve; means for continually stressing said valve toward its closed position and said switch toward its open position; said valve being normally closed and said switch normally open; and means for moving said valve toward its open position; whereby closing movement of said switch may be effected as a consequence of opening movement of said valve, before said valve is opened, and opening movement of said switch may be efiected as a consequence of closing movement of said valve, before said valve is closed.

10. A liquid dispensing system as in claim 7, wherein the means continually cooperatively connecting said valve and switch include frictional engaging means for the switch permitting relative adjustment of the position or" said switch with reference to the position of said valve, whereby the relation of the closing movement of said switch and the opening movement of said valve may be adjustably varied.

11. A liquid dispensing system as in claim 8, wherein the means continually cooperatively connecting said valve and switch include frictional engaging means for the switch permitting relative adjustment of the position of said switch with reference to the position of said valve, whereby the time relation of the operation of said valve and switch may be adjustably varied.

12. A liquid dispensing system as in claim 9, wherein the means continually cooperatively connecting said valve and switch include frictional engaging means for the switch permitting relative adjustment of the position of said switch with reference to the position of said valve, whereby the time relation of the operation of said valve and switch may be adjustably varied.

ARTHUR E. PAIGE.

(:ERTlFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,0ii,tiii9. August 13, 1935.

ARTHUR E. PAIGE.

it is hereby certified that error appears in tire printed specification of the above numiiereri patent requiring correction as fellows: Page 1, first column, iirie ii, fer "base" read hose; second column, line 26, strike out the comma and insert a pcried; page 2, secend c lumn, line 33, for "82" read 32; and page 4, line it), claim 9, strike out the words "saizi valve toward its open position; means cam"; and tiiat the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the some may eonform to the record oi the case in the iatem Office.

Signed are? sealed this 8th day of October, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

